Radiolab: Uncategorized

Re-wilding Tigers

May 2, 2008 – 11:30 am

Earlier this week, an article in the New York Times reported some good news about the genetic diversity of captive tigers. Apparently, a new study found that up to 20% of captive tigers are purebred, with genetic variations that no longer exist in the wild.

The article also pointed out that only 3,000 tigers now exist in the wild (that’s down from 100,000 in about 100 years). And of the tigers in captivity, only about 1,000 are part of breeding programs aimed at saving their respective species.

Three such tigers in South Africa made the headlines last month. A South China tiger–one of the most threatened tiger breeds–named Cathay gave birth to two cubs. The cubs, along with another born in November, are all the offspring of a South China tiger named Tiger Woods. They’re the first cubs of their kind to be born in captivity, and therefore raise hopes of saving their species–which The International Union for Conservation of Nature already declared extinct in 2002. The cubs are part of program in South Africa that aims to breed tigers, and eventually “re-wild” them after creating reserves in China.

For more information, check out this article at Times Online.

By Brenna Farrell | Comments (0)

The Fifth Annual Bent Festival hath begun!

April 25, 2008 – 2:27 pm

Gearheads, take note! The Bent Festival is in NYC all weekend long!
It’s a three day-long exploration of hardware hacking, DIY electronics, and circuit bending. Artists from around the globe perform music with their homemade or circuit bent instruments each night of the festival, teach workshops to adults and children alike, and create amazing, interactive art installations. The festival brings together artists of all ages and showcases the state of the art of DIY electronics and circuit bending culture.

Dates:
April 24-26

Location:
DCTV
87 Lafayette St
New York, NY, 10013

Tickets:
Each concert is $10.
A Festival Pass to all events is available for $25.

If you can’t make it to New York, the Bent Festival is also coming to Minneapolis May 1st-3rd.

For more information go here.

By Radiolab | Also posted in The Centrifuge | Comments (0)

Climate change and critical thinking

April 16, 2008 – 1:24 pm

yeimaya/flickr

NPR’s David Kestenbaum ran a piece yesterday on Morning Edition about a 16-year-old climate skeptic named Kristen Byrnes. This ambitious teenager has set up a website and dedicated huge chunks of her time to arguing that the rise of global temperature is part of a natural cycle and not, as most climate scientists agree, caused by human action.

The debate about the piece swirling around the science blog world provides a fascinating view into questions of expertise, critical thinking, and role of the media in covering the issue of climate change.

Kestenbaum draws us into what seems like a feel-good story about a young girl who has done something rather unusual. But his piece is really about much larger, and much more complicated issues: We’re not all scientists, so we have to look to others for expertise. At the same time, we should be critical in the face of that expertise.

Perhaps Kristen is a good example of critical thinking; as Kestenbaum says, “Kristen has a quality you want in a scientist, she is skeptical.” And she definitely tackled a pile of data and technical information that most teenagers would balk at. But Kristen may also have some qualities you don’t want in a scientist, particularly if she’s just seeking out evidence that supports her prior beliefs. She herself says “I never really believed in it.” And some of her science is questionable.

Toward the end of the piece, Kestenbaum does point out that “the overwhelming consensus is that humans are causing global warming, and the consequences could be serious.” Many of the science bloggers argue that Kestenbaum was wearing kid gloves during this interview. But then again, Kristen is a kid. And, in the end, maybe Kestenbaum is making a more subtle point. While the discussion of hard science is somewhat absent, the story takes us to the true front lines of the climate debate: the hearts and minds of Americans who have a lay person’s understanding of climate science and how to evaluate complicated scientific evidence.

Check out the story and the bloggers’ response, then come back to us and let us know what you think.

By Soren Wheeler | Comments (4)

The mark of a dedicated scientist

April 9, 2008 – 12:00 pm

Not all scientists are the quiet, serious type. Science writer Carl Zimmer offers a unique peek under the lab coat on his site Science Tattoo Emporium. Julian, who sent Carl the above picture of his tattoo of the testosterone molecule, writes:

The tat has to do with my love of lifting heavy weights and the most important molecule for that is testosterone. People can take all the synthetic testosterones and steroid derivatives they want but nothing feels better than knowing after a heavy lift that all you used was that which your testes produced.

So much for the stereotype of the timid scientist who avoids sports or physical exertion.

By Soren Wheeler | Comments (3)

Swarming Robots

April 3, 2008 – 10:00 am

Swarm Art Project /http://orbswarm.com

Radio Lab listener and electrical engineer, Mark Alexander, wrote in to let us know about a project that he’s working on and we think it’s just too cool not to show to yous guys.

Swarm is a collaborative art project with the idea to make a swarm of semi-autonomous rolling robots that travel and interact with whatever is around them. The thing is the robots communicate with one another as they roll around to figure out where they’ll go and what they’ll do, using sensor inputs and wireless communication. They’re also really pretty. The engineers put lights inside them that can change to any color. The orbs make music depending on the pattern they travel in and how close one is from another.

This reminded us a lot of the episode Emergence, where we examine what happens when there is no leader. (Though, technically speaking, there is a “mothership” that gives directions in the Swarm project.)

To learn more about the project you can go here.

“Vida 10.0″ is a quick documentary on the project:

If you do not see the video please install the latest flash player.

By Radiolab | Also posted in The Centrifuge | Comments (1)

Arthur C. Clarke 1917-2008

March 19, 2008 – 12:01 pm

Arthur C. Clarke at his home office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, photo by Amy Marash.

Arthur C. Clarke, the author of the book “2001: A Space Odyssey,” which became a Stanely Kubrick movie, died yesterday. Clarke was a visionary science fiction writer who foresaw the use of satellites for communications and planted a seed of wonder and awe in the universe for many young kids, including me.

You can check out his final interview, done by Spectrum radio, here.

By Soren Wheeler | Comments (2)

Our Podcast comes in all shapes and sizes

February 11, 2008 – 6:23 pm

Big and Small

Tuesday is Podcast Day. We’ve been getting some emails from some of you who are confused about the varying lengths of our podcasts… Some are long. Some are short. Fear not! There’s nothing wrong with your download. That’s the way it should be. Sometimes we podcast an entire hour-long episode. Sometimes we podcast a shorter piece that may only be 8 minutes or so. That’s just how we roll.

Up this week, Jad plays one of his favorite pieces of all time, “IF” by Sherre DeLys. You can sign up for our free podcast using Feedburner or just search for “Radio Lab” on your iTunes music store. Otherwise, take a listen to it right here!

If you do not see flash audio player please install the latest flash player.

Download MP3

By Lulu Miller | Also posted in Listenables, Podcasts | Comments (24)

The World’s Stickiest Song

February 11, 2008 – 10:30 am

Earworms. Those dastardly little songs that wriggle into your brain and just won’t leave. They can be beyond annoying.

We’re conducting an unscientific poll: What is the song most likely to get stuck in your head?

Comment below!

Or, better yet, leave us a message. And we just may use your voice in a sound piece.

Call (212) 669-8976. At the beep, tell us about what you think is the stickiest song in the universe. Sing it to us! And tell us why you think it’s so sticky. Is it something about the melody? The lyrics? when do you find it pops up? When you’re at work? Trying to sleep? And please, let us know if you have ANY great tricks to get it OUT of your head.

Oh, and be sure to tell us your name and where you’re from!

Check out other great remedies here.

By Radiolab | Also posted in The Incubator | Comments (42)

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